FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University field hockey team will open their season at Lafayette in Easton, Pa. on August 26 at 6:00pm.
Fairfield (0-0) vs. Lafayette (0-0): The Stags are 4-5 all-time against the Leopards. The last matchup between the two sides was in 2003 at Lafayette when Fairfield fell 0-2.
A Look at the Leopards: Lafayette was picked to finish third in the Patriot League's Preseason Poll behind 2015 champion Boston University and American. The Leopards also landed three names on the Preseason All-League Team. Senior goalkeeper Katelyn Arnold started all 19 games last season while posting a 2.58 goals against average and 92 saves. Senior forward Amanda Magadan is an impact scorer for Lafayette, tallying 10 goals and 25 points as a junior. Their last preseason all-leaguer is junior midfielder Ellen Colbourne. She earned All-Patriot League Second Team honors after notching six helpers and one score in 2015.
Last Season: Fairfield garnered a 9-10 overall record last season. The team earned the fourth seed in the conference tournament finishing the regular season at 3-3 in MAAC play. In the postseason, Fairfield bested Monmouth in the semifinals and then Quinnipiac in the championship game. With the win they advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history, matching up with Boston University in the Play-In Round.
Preseason Expectations: The field hockey team received six of the seven first place votes in the 2016 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Stags were voted ahead of the 2015 regular season champion Monmouth Hawks who received one first place vote. Fairfield also led the field with five Preseason All-MAAC Team selections. Seniors Ann Burgoyne and Julie de Paeuw earned unanimous selections, while classmates Caitlin Bennett and Maclaine Matties along with junior defender Erin Buckley were all selected as Preseason All-MAAC players. Burgoyne was also picked as the Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Milestone Watch: Heading into the season, senior forward Ann Burgoyne sits second all-time in Fairfield history with 43 goals, just two behind Felicitas Heinen '15 for most in school history. The forward is also third with 91 points, just 21 shy of the record for a career. Julie de Paeuw can jump into the Top 10 this season as well, she has compiled 19 goals and 45 points over her career, sitting in 8th and 11th respectively on Fairfield's all-time lists. Goalkeeper Caitlin Bennett can add to her impressive career during her final season as a Stag. Currently she ranks fourth in games played (51), third in wins (24), third in winning percentage (.471), and sixth in goals against average (2.52).
Looking Ahead: After Friday's game, the Stags will head to the Midwest, facing Iowa on September 2 and St. Louis on September 3 both in Iowa City.
